There are several incredibleK-dramaactors, and many of them have never acted in projects together. This is despite the fact that some actor pairings feel as though they would be perfect choices for any k-drama, fitting all sorts of different genres, covering everything from comedy to crime drama. Many of them have been the subject ofperfect k-drama castingbefore, and with these co-stars they could be again.
Choosing co-stars for any show requires striking a delicate balance, finding what works about an actor’s performance and amplifying that quality. It is this sort of chemistry and hard work that has resulted in some ofthe best k-dramas of all time. More great k-dramas could be made with these actor pairings, and hopefully viewers will have the opportunity to see them share the screen in the future.
10Seo In-guk And Im Si-wan
Both Actors Have The Ability To Change Completely Between Roles
Many actors end up being type-cast throughout their careers, filling similar roles from project to project. However, Seo In-guk and Im Si-wan both have a unique talent for completely changing their presentations between roles, sometimes in the very same project.The two of them also have a shared background, both coming into the industry with experience as K-pop stars.
Im Si-wan is confirmed to co-star in the upcoming season ofSquid Game,set to release December 26th, 2024.
Seo In-guk is nearly unrecognizable between his performances inThe Smile Has Left Your EyesandDoom at Your Service,with fans of his noting how expressive his acting can be. Im Si-wan is perhaps equally expressive, with his performance inStrangers from Hellseeing him begin as cautiously optimistic office intern Yoon Jong-woo who slowly descends into violent madness. The changes that the two of them pull off alone are drastic, and together they could star in a k-drama that constantly subverts audience expectations with their performances.
9Lee Sung-kyung And Son Ye-jin
They Are Both Powerful Drama Actresses
Lee Sung-kyung has been the star of many romances over the years, including the Disney+ seriesCall it Love,but she also has experience in action withMiss & Mrs. Cops.Son Ye-jin has a much wider filmography with an emphasis on drama, with her most famous k-drama beingCrash Landing on You,where she stars alongside her husband, Hyun Bin. She has been in many different projects over the years and has even won awards for her performances.
With their combined experience in drama, Lee Sung-kyung and Son Ye-jin could star in an emotional series that focuses on, for example, their lives or friendship.It could even focus on a romantic rivalry, since the two of them have so much experience in that genre. Regardless, their chemistry and emotional chemistry could be palpable, as Son Ye-jin especially seems to bring that out in everyone she co-stars with.
8Gong Yoo And Kim Ji-won
Emotion Is A Major Part Of Their Acting Styles
Gong Yoo is one of the most well-known actors in South Korea, with his worldwide acclaim attributed to incredible performances in projects such asTrain to BusanandGuardian: The Lonely and Great God.Kim Ji-won is just beginning to reach high levels of popularity, something that has only truly been set in stone by her incredible performance as Hong Hae-in inQueen of Tears.Both actors are incredibly dynamic in their performances, bringing emotion to the forefront in every scene.
A collaboration between the two of them would be perfect for any tear-jerker and would be sure to have viewers reeling with emotion afterward.
Most ofGong Yoo’s greatest performanceshave been dramas with powerful emotional centers, and part of the reason they are so memorable is because of Gong Yoo’s powerful ability to bring out emotion in the viewer. This is an ability that Kim Ji-won shares, having won awards for her acting performances in projects such asDescendants of the SunandQueen of Tears.A collaboration between the two of them would be perfect for any tear-jerker and would be sure to have viewers reeling with emotion afterward.
7Park Hyung-sik And Wi Ha-joon
They Would Be Perfect For A Buddy Comedy
Park Hyung-sik is perhaps best well-known for his role as Ahn Min-hyuk inStrong Girl Bong-Soon,a notable performance for how fun it really is. Wi Ha-joon, on the other hand, is best known for his chilling performances in shows such asSquid GameandThe Worst of Evil.In fact, most ofWi Ha-Joon’s best films and showshave been these sorts of harrowing dramas.
On the outside, these two might not seem like the best fit for a k-drama duo, but one show proves this is not the case.Wi Ha-joon recently starred alongside industry legend Lee Dong-wook in comedy-thrillerBad and Crazy,which oftentimes plays just as much as a buddy comedy as it does a gripping mystery.Park Hyung-sik would be perfect for this sort of dynamic, playing into the comedy that could be had between the two actors' characters.
6Kim Tae-ri And Lee Do-hyun
The Stoic Performances These Actors Are Known For Would Compliment Each Other
Best known for her powerful roles in shows such asTwenty-Five Twenty-OneandRevenant,Kim Tae-ri has been cast in roles that require strength of character and heavy performances. Lee Do-hyun is in a similar spot, well-known for his roles inPrison Playbook, Hotel del Luna,andSweet Home.Their roles do share one thing in common, as they have both given stoic performances for characters that seem to endure.
Kim Tae-ri has won many awards for Best Actress for her performances in shows and films such asTwenty-Five Twenty-One, Revenant,andThe Handmaiden.
The two of them both have experience in the romance genre, with examples of this beingTwenty-Five Twenty-Oneand Do-hyun’s18 Again.If the two of them were to star in a romantic drama together, they could bring their experience from other shows along with them and weave them into stoic performances, ones that have the same passion as their past appearances. Two characters such as this could breed problems from similarity, bringing conflict into this hypothetical romantic drama.
5Jung Ho-yeon And Kim Go-eun
This Could Be Another Big Step In Ho-yeon’s Career
After her incredible debut performance as Kang Sae-byeok in Netflix’sSquid Game,Jung Ho-yeon’s career is only just beginning. She began as a model in South Korea and has only now begun the transition to acting, something that has been an amazing success so far. Kim Go-eun’s career has been much longer and incredibly varied, showing that she is able to portray incredible innocence with performances such asGuardian: The Lonely and Great God,as well as pain and rage in the thrillerMonster.
Even though Jung Ho-yeon is relatively new as an actress, she has already proven that she can act among the best of the best.A collaboration between her and Kim Go-eun would be able to carry the weight of an emotional performance, no matter what genre it is set in.The project could be anything from drama to comedy and these two would be able to excel in their roles.
4Song Kang And Moon Ga-young
The Two Would Be Perfect For A Grounded Romantic Comedy
Moon Ga-young has been a romance mainstay for many years, starring in both romantic comedies and dramas such asTrue BeautyandFind Me in Your Memory. Song Kang has also has romance experience, having played a part in the Netflix seriesLove Alarm.However, he is much more well known for his role as the lead inthe horror Webtoon adaptationSweet Home.
True Beautybegan as a Webtoon and has also been adapted into an anime, which began airing in 2024.
Despite the fact thatTrue Beautyis a romance at heart, it can often be just as emotional as a show likeSweet Home.Death is a main theme shared in both shows, as well as finding meaning in life. A romantic comedy collaboration between Moon Ga-young and Song Kang could have this sort of emotional depth, relying on good writing and actor performances instead of falling into shallow tropes.
3Lee Dong-wook And Shin Ha-kyun
They Could Heighten Each Other’s Unhinged Performances
Lee Dong-wook is a legend in the acting industry, but he is best known for charming, if not a little awkward, characters in shows such asTale of the Nine-TailedandGuardian: The Lonely and Great God.However,Dong-wook’s performance as the dentist turned serial killer Seo Moon-jo turned everything viewers knew about his acting on its head, showing just how terrifying he can be in a villainous role. This meshes well with Shin Ha-kyun’s performance as detective Lee Dong-sik, who portrays the character’s dark past and even darker personality a bit too well.
Because of these two performances, if the two were to work together on a project, it would be interesting if they played these sorts of characters again. Not only would the two be able to elevate the other’s performance with their energy, but it would give viewers the opportunity to see Dong-wook and Ha-kyun in these sorts of roles again. This would create a great show or movie, whether it be another detective story or flat out horror.
2Hyun Bin And Gong Yoo
A Drama Starring These Actors Would Be An Award-Winner
Hyun Bin has been starring in big projects for decades, beginning with his role in the 2005 romantic comedyMy Name is Kim Sam-soon.Since then, he has gained notoriety for his roles inThe Fatal Encounterand more recentlyCrash Landing on You,cementing his spot as one of South Korea’s biggest actors. Gong Yoo is similarly popular, andGong Yoo is now returning to K-drama after a three-year hiatus.
Hyun Bin has won different awards for many shows, including awards for his acting inCrash Landing on YouandSecret Garden.
The two are both incredible figures in the South Korean film industry, having starred in countless projects across many different genres.It would be interesting to see both of them return to the fantasy genre, calling back on Hyun Bin’sSecret Gardenand Gong Yoo’sGuardian: The Lonely and Great God.No matter what genre they are cast for, these two would make for a dynamic duo.
1Lee Jung-jae And Lee Dong-wook
These Two Industry Powerhouses Have Yet To Collaborate
Although Lee Jung-jae was already a star by the time he was cast as the lead in Netflix’sSquid Game,the show brought his popularity to international heights.He has now been featured inStar Warsplaying the role of Master Sol inThe Acolyte,a role that Lee Jung-jae learned English to take.He is an incredibly dedicated actor, and it is a wonder that him and Lee Dong-wook have not yet collaborated on a film or show yet.
If the two of them were to star together, the result would be an explosive example of solid acting and realistic performance. Lee Dong-wook is incredibly emotive, as is Lee Jung-jae, and thus able to draw a reaction out of the viewer. Their performance, no matter the genre, is sure to be emotional, making it aK-dramathat should hopefully happen in the future.
